Women's Decision-Making And Factors Affecting Their Choice Of ...

All women who participated in the study were white, except one who was
of Indian origin. They all seemed relaxed and appeared to talk candidly about
their decision-making and previous experiences of childbirth. Some of the
women asked about the situation of childbirth where the researcher had worked,
but the questions were general and not about the subject of the study. The
questions were usually asked after the interview. It is argued that women felt
more at ease talking to someone who they may have felt was not part of the
establishment about which they were reporting.
The researcher's anxiety in anticipating the interviews was whether women
participating in the study would regard her as an outsider, and also whether they
would perceive the research as worthwhile. However, the anxieties were expelled
soon after the first few interviews by the spontaneity of the women's responses to
the research question, the way they shared some very personal information, and
by offering to be contacted again if more information was needed.
In an attempt to promote acceptance, and create rapport, the researcher
dressed in a smart, but casual manner for the interviews, and initiated casual
conversation before the interview commenced. The conversation advanced to
asking them about how their pregnancy had progressed up to that point. If there
were children in the house, the researcher also interacted with them according to
their age. The dialogue with women appeared to be easy and spontaneous,
suggesting that they were comfortable with the researcher's presence. A decision
was made to tape record the interviews and not to write notes, as this would allow
more attention and eye contact with the women, which may signify an interest in
what they were sharing.
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